Expression of affect as a mediator of the relationship between quality of object relations and group therapy outcome for patients with complicated grief.

Abstract

In a recent study, the patient characteristic quality of object relations (QOR) was directly related to favorable outcome (reduction of grief symptoms) among a sample of 53 outpatients with complicated grief who completed treatment in 1 of 8 time-limited, interpretive therapy groups. Recent research literature has suggested that patient affect variables may mediate the relationship between QOR and outcome. In the present study, affect variables were investigated as potential mediating variables using the procedure developed by R. M. Baron and K. A. Kenny (1986). The balance of positive and negative affect expressed in therapy as rated by both patients and therapists emerged as a significant mediating variable. Explanations for how this variable works as a mediating variable and why it facilitates favorable outcome were offered. Clinical implications are also considered.